A Newsletter For Our Friends & Partners                                           January 2009

 
 
 HUD Awards SDHC Funding for Family
Self-Sufficiency Program
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) awarded SDHC with a $396,000 grant for the agency's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The grant was HUD's largest allocation to any California housing authority.
 
"This is about breaking the cycle of poverty - helping families become self-sufficient so that they no longer need public assistance," said Oscar Laffaye, assistant director of housing programs for SDHC's Workforce & Economic Development department.
 
All participants of the Housing Commission's Rental Assistance program are eligible to participate in the FSS program. The HUD funding will enable SDHC to continue to help clients obtain the skills and resources needed to "get ahead" in the business world - and help them achieve economic independence.
 
SDHC clients who have benefited from SDHC's FSS program include Andrea Evon (shown above). With help from SDHC, Andrea developed and implemented a business plan, trained for and earned her license in cosmetology, and saved up funds to open her own hair and beauty studio. Andrea's business is doing well - and as a result, she is now on her way to becoming self-sufficient.
 
For more information, read the news release and view a 10News segment.

Big Plans for "Moving Forward"
16MarketSDHC received approval from HUD to operate as a "Moving to Work" (MTW) agency. MTW is a special HUD designation that grants Housing Authorities greater flexibility to tailor programs more efficiently through exemptions from certain HUD rules and regulations.
 
As a MTW agency, SDHC will be able to make a number of innovative changes to improve services for low-income households and rental owners participating in SDHC's Rental Assistance ("Section 8" voucher) program.
 
Benefits will include expanded resources to help families become economically independent and to purchase homes. Changes beneficial to landlords who lease to voucher-assisted families will include higher SDHC rent payments in areas of low-poverty, and less frequent property inspections for well-maintained units.
 
Funded by HUD, the Rental Assistance program helps nearly 14,000 low-income San Diego households live in apartments and houses owned and managed by more than 6,000 private owners.

Quick Links
Website: www.sdhc.org
Fact Sheet: What We Do

Success Story
Rental Assistance Program Benefits Both Renters and Owners
 16Market
Rental owner Chris Blatt has found SDHC's Rental Assistance "Section 8" voucher program to be a good business tool. Program benefits for landlords such as Chris include: flexible lease terms, guaranteed rents (SDHC's portion) directly deposited into the owner's bank account, streamlined processes, help identifying property maintenance needs, and a free vacancy listing database service.
 
Chris - who owns and operates nearly 60 rental units, most of which he leases to tenants with vouchers - says that he also enjoys having the opportunity to help provide lower-income San Diegans with affordable housing. Chris' tenants include Lonnie - who suffers from congenital heart disease and a related mental impairment. Lonnie had never lived independently until receiving a voucher from SDHC. Lonnie pays approxi-
mately 30 percent of his income (from a part-time job and Social Security) for rent, with SDHC paying Chris the difference. The arrangement has been a win-win for both.
 

Resources to Help San Diegans Purchase Foreclosed Homes
Tax Credits: SDHC recently received from the state an allocation of special Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs) designed to help up to 100 moderate-income San Diegans purchase foreclosed homes.
 
As a federal tax credit, MCCs reduce the amount of federal income taxes owed, which in turn increases the home buyers' take-home pay, allowing them to qualify for larger first mortgages. For more information, click here.  
 
Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Besides the MCCs,
SDHC - in partnership with the City of San Diego - will offer an additional array of resources for purchasing bank-owned homes through the new Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). This will be a local version of a national, HUD-funded program. On January 15, HUD announced approval of all NSP applications in the state, including the one submitted by SDHC-City of San Diego. It is anticipated that the San Diego NSP program will begin in March. NSP resources will include deferred second trust deed loans, housing rehabilitation assistance and down payment grants to help with the acquisition of the property.

News & Notes
> The Housing Authority and Housing Commission approved a $4.9 million loan to developer Community HousingWorks to purchase a site for the purpose of constructing a new affordable housing development called Arbor Crest. Located in North Park, Arbor Crest will serve 83 low-income families.
 
> Allen Sims, a resident of an SDHC-owned affordable housing development, has joined SDHC's board of directors. Read his biography.
 
> Larry Clemens has joined SDHC as senior vice president for Housing Development & Finance. Clemens' background includes leadership positions in the building industry. Read the news release.
                   
SDHCLogo
The San Diego Housing Commission is a public agency working to expand affordable housing opportunities in the City of San Diego. Each year, the agency helps 80,000 low-income individuals with affordable housing through award-winning programs that benefit the city's economy and revitalize neighborhoods. The agency also finances affordable housing development and advises the San Diego City Council on housing policy matters. Learn more: www.sdhc.org.